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Allen D. Bernard
8/22/2018


SPRINGFIELD ~ Allen D. “Pépère” Bernard, 80, of The Wellington at Springfield, was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, August 22, 2018. He passed into Eternal Life at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family and his wonderful caregivers. He was born at home on Lester Street in the Chicopee Falls section of Chicopee on February 28, 1938, a beloved son of the late Basil and Beatrice (Durocher) Bernard. He was raised in Chicopee, graduated in 1955 from Cathedral High School in Springfield and lived in Chicopee for many years. He then lived on Worcester Avenue and later on Union Street before moving to Grayson Drive in Springfield in February of 2018. He served his country in the United States Navy and attained the rank of Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer Third Class. He was employed for many years at the former Eastern Etching Company in Chicopee. He later was the owner and manager of the Lil Peach Convenience Store in the Fairview section of Chicopee and was last the co-owner and operator of the West End Dairy Convenience Store on West Street in Chicopee. During his leisure time Al enjoyed playing golf. Most of all, he was a quiet man who loved his family and his many friends. He was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Helene T. (Roy) Bernard. They were married on September 28, 1963 at the former Saint Thomas Aquinas Church in Springfield and were blessed with over 54 years of happiness together. Besides his wife, he leaves his two loving children, Thomas J. Bernard and his wife, Theresa, of Chicopee and Laura J. Nolan and her husband, Timothy, of Springfield; his five cherished grandchildren, Kyle A. Bernard and his wife, Michelle, of Nashville, TN, Trevor T. Bernard of Washington, DC, Paige L. Bernard and Madison J. Bernard, both of Chicopee and Emma E. Nolan of Springfield; his two dear sisters-in-law, Velma Bernard of West Springfield and Lillian Bernard of California; his dear brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law of the Roy family, Leo W. Roy of East Longmeadow, Alice J. Wren and her husband, William, of Manassas Park, VA, Paul H. Roy and his wife, Donna, of Newington, CT, Richard D. Roy and his wife, Sandra, of Westfield, and Lorraine I. Babij of Springfield; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends, and extended members of the Bernard and Roy families. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his dear brothers and sister, Edward and Norman Bernard, and Jeannette Dufault; his dear brothers-in-law, Harvey Dufault and George Babij; and his dear sisters-in-law, Claire Orefice and Stella Roy. The family would like to thank the staff at Baystate Medical Center, especially, Dr. Gowdar and nurses, Laurie, Amanda, Maylan, Eva, Michelle, David and Abby, as well as Yaritza for their compassion and exceptional care. His funeral will be held on Wednesday morning, August 29, 2018 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 7:45 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. in Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Committal Service with United States Navy Honors will be held at 11 a.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. If desired, his family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Shriners Hospital for Children, Springfield Unit, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104 or to the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels
13 Dale Street
Chicopee, MA USA 01020
413-532-9806